Folding clothes rack



Oct. 23, 1951 om-low 2,572,655

FOLDING CLOTHES RAQK Filed Jan. 13, 1948 mmvroza. ARTHUR J. ROOHOW Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING CLOTHES RACK Arthur J Rochvv, Pittsford, Y. Application January 13, 1M8, Serial No. 2,007

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-9 6) and to support the same in separated relation for quick drying.

A further object is to provide a clothes rack of the nature described in a construction adapted for holding articles made of delicate fabrics, such as those woven with silk and nylon fibers,

without snagging the fibers thereof, discoloring or otherwise injuring the same.

Still a further object is to provide a clothes rack having the above advantages in a construction capable of being readily manufactured and assembled and at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of.

parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully dey scribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a clothes rack embodying the present invention and showing the parts in folded arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan View with parts broken away and showing the arms extended in position for use; 4

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, sectional view on the line 44 in Fig. l, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 in Fig. 3.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed by way of illustration comprises, preferably, a supporting frame, indicated generally at N3, of horizontally elongated shape having a, rear or back wall I I formed with openings l2 for the reception of screws or other means for fastening the frame to a wall, door or other vertical indoor surface. Rear wall has a. pair of vertically spaced, top and bottom flanges l3 and M, respectively, therefrom and each formed with a marginal strengthening flange, as l5. This frame is advantageousl constructed integrally of moldable material, preferably of one of the known, readily moldable plastic materials, such, for example, as polystyrene, which can be molded with a smooth and polished surface at relatively low cost.

Connecting the flanges l3 and H, at each end projecting horizontally forward- Q of the frame are vertical pivot pins, I1 and I8,

each mounted at its ends in the upper and lower flanges, as shown. These pins also may be conveniently molded of plastic material with heads I9 at theirupper ends and caps 20 frictionally or adhesively secured to their lower ends to secure the pins in place.

A plurality of folding rack arms 2| are pivotally mounted in superposed arrangement on each of the pins ll and 18. That is, each arm has at one end an enlargedhub or disk 22 formed centrally with an opening closely but loosely fitting the corresponding pin and the periphery of each.

hub is preferably formed with coarse knurling, as shown, for a purpose hereafter described. The thickness of these hubs and the vertical spacing of the flanges M are so proportioned thata de-e sired number of arms, in the present instance four, is closely received on each pin between the;

inner faces of the flanges l3 and [4, as shown. The delicate fabrics used in some articles of clothing, such as silk and nylon fabrics, are

Woven with exceedingly fine filaments or fibers which tend to become snagged or caught by surface projections of even minute proportions on supporting or other surfaces with which they come in contact, so as to injure or even destroy the fabric. This is true of surfaces of metal or wood, which may also tend to injure the fabric by staining caused by corroded metal, or wood treated with a varnish or other finishing coat. I have found that for freedom from such defects, as well as for the desirable qualities of lightness, strength and economy of space and material, the supporting frame andparticularly the article holding arms of such a clothes rack, may be advantageously constructed of moldable material and especially one of the known synthetic plastic materials such, .for example, as polystyrene, since these plastic materials are readily molded in desired shapes with a highly polished and exceedingly smooth surface .containing no projections capable of snagging the finest textile fibers and having no tendency to discolor or stain the fabrics.

Accordingly, the arms 2'1 are preferably molded integrally of a moldable material, such as polystyrene, with a transverse cross section shape of I -bar shape, as best shown in Fig. 5, having its web portion 23 arranged horizontally and its flanges 24 vertically, as shown, thus affording a light and strong sectional shape which is economic of space and material requirements.

finger comprises a central web portion 26 pro:

3 jecting laterally or horizontally from one flange of its arm, as shown, and each finger has at one side thereof a vertical flange 21 arranged in juxtaposed ..relation with the flange of the arm, so as to "formtherebetween a clothes receiving throat 28. The flange of the finger is shaped to give to the throat an inwardly decreasing width adapted to frictionally grip and releasably hold an article of clothing. That is, each throat 'is wider at its outer end and decreases to a narrow width at its inner end as at 29, so that an article may be pressed into the throat atsu'ch a distance, depending upon its thickness. of material, until it is effectively gripped and'heldin suspended arrangement from the arm. The adjacent-flange surfaces forming the opposite sides ofthe throat are preferably somewhat curved or-reunded away from each other, as at 39 (Fig. 5')", tie-facilitate the insertion and gripping of the fabric; A larger number of fingers may obviously be p'rovided on each arm, if so desired.

Where the rack includes twosets of folding arms as'herein disclosed, they may all be molded uniformly from the same mold, each arm being connected in somewhat offset or eccentric relation'toits hub 22, with the result that one set of 'arms maybe arranged to fold through the open front side of the frame HI- and closely against its rear wall I l, as shown in Fig. 1, while the other set may be arrangedto fold and compactly'nest against the first set, when not in use; mainly within the outlines of the frame. The-arms of each set are easily rotated to unfold and extend or spread them fan-wise for use, as shown'in Fig. 3, by applying a, thumb or finger to the hubs 22, which are knurled for that-purpose and left accessible at the ends of the frame which are left open as at NS for that purpose. As" shown, the arms maybe spread outthrough a relatively wide angle in use and folded; when not'in' use, into the compact position shown in- Fig. 1'.

By means of its series of fingers 25, each arm is adapted to receive a number of articles and the arms, altogether, hold a large number of articles which are separately supported in spaced relation with each other to facilitate contact with the air and'rapid drying. The arms, especia-lly when made of one of the plastic materials described above, may be integrally molded with highly polished and exceedingly smooth surfaces free from any tendency to snag the fibers of or stain or otherwise injure the finest fabrics. Such construction affords a supporting frame and rack arms, of a light and strong construction with economy of space and of materials, and the parts may be; readily manufactured and assembled at a' minimum of cost.

Itis contemplated that the. rack'herein disclosed may be conveniently attached to a vertical wall, or door, or'to furniture, or other-surfaces indoors, as by means of screws inserted throughthe openings 1 2 in the rear wall, or other fastening means which will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and while a clothes rack so constructed .is particularly advantageous for indoor use, it may obviously be supported out of doors, as occasion may require.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than alimiting sense, as it is contemplated that'various modifications in the construction and ar= rangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a clothes rack,-,a:si1pporting frame having thereon a vertical pivot pin, a, plurality of arms pivotally mounted in superposed arrangement on said pin, each of said arms having a transverse cross section of I-bar shape arranged with itsweb horizontal and its flanges vertical, and a plurality of laterally extending, integral fingers spaced longitudinally along each of said arms, each of said fingers extending longitudinally of its arm and having thereon a flange in juxtaposed relation with a flange of said arm to form therebetween a clothes receiving throat of inwardly decreasing width adapted to frictionally grip and releasably hold an article of clothing.

2; In a clothes rack, a frame integrally composed; of moldable plastic material and having thereon a vertical pivot pin, a plurality of arms integrally composed of moldable plastic material and pivotally mounted in superposed arrangement on said pin, each of said armsrhaving a transverse cross section of I-bar shape arranged with its web horizontal and its flanges vertical, and a plurality of laterallyv extending, integral fingers spaced longitudinally along each of said arms, each of said fingers extending longitudinally of its arm and having thereon a flange, in juxtaposed relation with a flange of said arm to formtherebetween a clothes receiving throat of inwardly decreasing, widthadapted to frictionally grip and releasably hold an article of clothing. 3. In a folding clothes rack, a horizontally elongated frame having an open front and a back adapted for attachment to a vertical supporting surface, said frame being integrally constructed of moldableplastic material with a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally projecting flanges, a vertical pivot pin at each end of said frame with itsends mounted in said flanges, a plurality of arms integrally constructed of moldable plastic materialand pivotally mounted in superposed arrangement on each of said pins, said arms be-' ing pivotally foldable into nested arrangement in said frame, and each of said arms having a trans-.

verse cross section of I-bar shape arranged with its web horizontal and its flanges vertical, and a plurality of laterally extending, integral fingers spaced longitudinally along each of said arms,

each of said fingers extending longitudinally of its. arm andhaving thereon a flange in juxtaposed relation with a flange of said arm to form therebetween a clothes receiving throat of. inwardly decreasing width adapted to frictionally grip and. releasably hold an article of clothing.

ARTHUR J. ROCHOW.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowingreferences are of record in the filelofthis. patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 98,057 Culver Jan. '7, 1936 D. 131,682 Bolten et a1 Mar. 24, 1942 D. 145,829 Whitman Oct. 22, 1946 D. 145,874 Pauly Nov. 5, 1946 258,745 Gourley May 30, 1832 384,194 Danner June 5, 1888 1,687,129 Henninger Oct. 9,1928 1,783,840 Goeller Dec. 2, 1930 2,403,834 Streit July 9, 1946' 

